Intermittent feeler mechanism for looms



Feb. 10, 1931.

E. D. M ARTHUR INTERMITTENT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed March 29, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTURJ "A7LTURNEY Feb. 10, 1931;

Filed March 29,1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 2\/ 30 w 2.9 15:92 I U a Feb. 10, 1931. D MacARTHUR 1,791,823

INTERMITTENT FEELER MECHANISM FOR LOOMS Filed March 29, 1950 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I/NVENTUR'" ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 10, 1931 ENT tries ELVIN D, MAGARTHUR, oFwoLLAsToiv, iun ssnoiiusEms, assienon TO eanna coa- POR-ATION, or HOPEDALE, nnssncnusnrrs, A CORPORATION or MAINE i ternment mama icinciia'nisri Eon Looms Application filed March 29, 930. Shaina/439,942.

This invention relates to feeler mechanisms for looms and is'more particularly directed to feeler mechanisms of the intermittent type .c wherein the 'feeler has periods of activityand periods of inactivity during iweaving Wlth:

and means have been" employed for freeing the feeler from the latch or detent atinter vals that the feeler may move under'the normally acting stress of the'spring to its rearward feeling position.

In accordance with the present invention the stressof the feeler spring is 'so controlled that during the inactive periods of the feeler I the spring is entirely relieved from e'xerting any stress or action upon the feler and perio'dically the feeler is moved to its feeling-position to impart stress'to the spring during the beat-up, and should the feeler detect a working supply of filling in the.'shuttle the spring is again released so that the feeler may rest idly in any front position to which it may be moved quite free from spring control.

The object and purpose of the present invention is to provide. a feeler mechanism of $5 the above indicated type and operation wherein the mechanical means employed may be simplified and the feeler caused to act intermittently to detect the'condition ofthe filling in the shuttle.

The invention and novel features thereof will best be made clear from the following description and the accompanying drawing of one good practical form thereof.

In the drawings: v

Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing'portions of a loom having the present invention applied thereto; 1 1

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side'sectional elevati'on of the feeler mechanism showing the latter in its normal inactive position;

Fig. 3 is a similar view showing the feeler and the relationofparts when it isin active position;

Fig.-4t is an enlarged detail in perspective showing the relation of parts when the feeler 1 detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle less than that contained on a full bobbin, but wherein the filling is not yet substantially exhausted; and

Fig. 5 is'a view similar to that of Fig. 4 showing the relation of parts when the shuttle detects substantial exhau'stion of filling in the shuttle. r

Feele'r mechanisms are now ordinarily employed for effecting replenishment of filling when that in the active shuttle has become substantially exhausted, but since the details ofthe replenishing'mechanism form no essential parts of the present invention and are now well understood in the art, their illustration and: description are not'deem'ed necessary.

The loom; frame has extending therefrom, as usual, the shipper stand lfrom which proects a portion 2 fo'r the support of the feeler stand, which may be clamped thereto in any usual manner. In the present instance the i'eeler'stand has the upright member thereof provided with an opening "5 through which extends a boltG passing through an elongated slot 7 in the projecting portion 2 ofth'e loom frame. The upper portion of the feeler stand, in the present instance, com,- pr ses an arm 8 through which extends a securing bolt 9 threaded into a boss or support 10 constltuting the feeler stand proper. The support 10 has an opening therein, through which extends a hollow fixed member. 11

V which may be clamped in place b the bolt 9;

lVithin the hollow member If the feeler and-certain operative parts are mounted. As shown, the feeler consists of a slide 12 which fits thehollow member 11 and to'the rear end portion of the slide 12 the feeler 13 is pivot ally connected, as at- 14, so that the feeler may move longitudinally of the shuttle when on. a detecting beat the feeler detects substantial exhaustion of filling. V

The feeler 13has its rear end it rtion pro-i vided withteeth 15 which may acl. as usual to hold the feeler from side slipping movement when it detects a working supply of filling in the shuttle, and between the toothed portion and the pivotal support 14 of the feeler is connected a transmitter 16, the end portion of which is connected at17 to a pivoted member 18 carried on the end of an actuator 19. The pivoted member has a lateral projection 20 which is normally out of the path of movement of anoperating member 21 (Fig. 1) whichmay be a part connected to the usual cam follower. The actuator 19 is itself pivotally connected at 22 to the arm 23 ris-- ing from the usual transverse or rock shaft 24 mounted on the breast beam of the loom and associated at its opposite end with the filling replenishing mechanism, the construction being such that should the actuator 19 be moved frontwardly, the transverse or rock shaft 24 will be rocked and set in operation a train of mechanism for effecting replenishment of filling when the shuttle returns to the replenishing side of the loom. The tram of mechanism thus far described-may be of any usual construction as now well understood in the art. I

The feeler portion 12 has connected to it a feeler stem 25 which extends frontwardly through the hollow member 11 and mounted for sliding movement on the front portion of the feeler stem is the sleeve 26. Interposed between the portion 12 of the feeler and the sliding sleeve 26 is the feeler spring 27, the construction being such that shouldthe sleeve 26 be moved rearwardly on the-feeler stem it will act through the spring 27 to move the feeler into rearward feeling position so that on detecting beats the spring will be stressed to return the feeler to feeling position under circumstances which will later ap; :ear. l 1 1 Extending from the support or boss 10 is an arm 28 which constitutes a fixed support, and pivotally mounted on the fixed support 28 at 29 is an arm 30, the upwardly extending portion of which is frontward of the sleeve 26, which may be conveniently provided with an enlarged head portion 31 against which the upper end of the arm may act.

As hereinbefore stated, the feeler stem has the sleeve 26 which constitutes a 'sprlng controller. slidably mounted thereon, and the stem of the feeler extends through the sleeve and is provided at its front portion with an enlargement 32 which may be convemently secured thereto by threading the enlargement 32 upon the feeler stem.

From the construction thus far described it will be apparent that should the arm 30 be swung about its pivotal support 29 in a contra-clockwise direction, viewing the drawings, it will move the spring controller or sleeve 26 rearwardly and as it acts upon the spring'27 it will correspondingly move the feeler into its rearward feeling position, and

end portion of the feeler will prevent side slipplng movement by engagement with the filling.

The arm 30 has connected thereto a projecting portion 33 the end of which rests upon a pm 34 under the stress of a light spring 35,

one end of which is connected to the projection 33, as shown, and the other to a pin 36 mounted on the horizontal extension 37 of the feeler stand. 4

The pin 34 is mounted for sliding movement in a casing 38 which may be conveniently mounted onthe horizontal extension 37 of the feeler stand, and cooperating with' the pin 34 is the wire 39 surrounded by a flexible metallic sheath 40. Y

Mounted on the loom frame, as indicated in Fig. 1, is a bracket 41 having a tubular support 42 for a pin 43 which is'slidable in the support, and the flexible wire 39 covered by its sheath rests against the inner end of the pin, with the result that should the pin 43 be movedlengthwise in its bearings it will act upon the flexible wire 39 and cause an upward movement of the pin 34 hereinbefore described.

In accordance with the present invention, the feeler has periods of activity and periods of inactivity and means are employed for periodically moving the flexible wire 39 lengthwise to initiate a period of activity of the feeler. 1

In the present instance of the invention, the pin 43 is given its sliding movement in its bearing 42 through the take-up mechanism, although it will be apparent that any going part of the loom may be utilized for this purpose, which will act periodically to move the pin 43 and perforce the flexible wire 39, to effect movement ofthe arm 30 as indicated.

In the present instance of the invention, the bracnet 41, Fig. 1, has pivotally mounted thereon at 44 an arm 45 against which the free end of the pin 43 rests, and the arm 45 has a cam surface 46 adapted to be engaged by a lug 47 mounted on the gear wheel 48 constituting one member of the take-up, with the result that when the projection 47 rides along the cam portion 46 of the lever 45, the flexible wire 39 will be moved lengthwise to thereby act upon the arm30 and move it contraclockwise about itspivotal support.

Pivotally mounted on the fixed support 28 at 49 is a locking lever 50 provided with a locking shoulder 51 adapted to engage in front of the sleeve 26, or the enlargement 31 thereof, when the sleeve or springcontroller has been moved rearwardly to place the feeler in feeling position.

messes.

helosckingl v r; 50 s1n 1ma y der e; influenceof: av spring 52; tending to swing it up vardly, one end of this spring 52 beinglsecured to the fixed; support at 53and the other to the-hooked end portion 54 v of; the locking lever The front end portion. of thelocking lever 50 is provided with a bevel; or incline 55, which; is adaptedtobe engaged by thefront end portion ofjthefeeler-stemwhenthe feeler is moved frontwardly-on a detectingbeat by a Working supplyof; fillinginthe shuttle and thereby; trip the-locking; lever and free the feeler; and spring controller to frontward movemen s h fieeler-mo rontwa 11:. derthe impactot a full bobbin on a detecting beat The front end portion of the feeler stennas 32, Will thereafter rest upon the upper surface 56 in frictional engagement there- Withand consequently prevent the loom vibration from disturbing the position ofthe parts with the feelerin its frontward inactive position. 1

From the construction described it will be apparent that the feeler has periods of activity and periods of inactivity during 7633(- ing .vvith the same supply of filling in the shuttle, and during; its periods of activity the spring controller and consequently-the feeler will be held in rearward position as indicated in Fig. 1. 7,,

Asthe fillingz is Withdrawn from the shuttle and its diameterconsequently becomes less, in front of the feeler, the feeler willbe;

moved frontwardly aless distancethan when a full bobbin isf present in the shuttle,'vvith the result that the feeler stem will engage-the incline 55 of the lever 50, trip thespringcontrollerf or sleeve 2 6; wlrich, Willthen take an intermediate position with respect 'tothetrip lever 50, asindicated in Fig. 4. ,With the parts as indicated in Fig. 4 andthe filling partially exhausted it; is desirable that the feeler and the feeler controller or sleeve 26 be prevented from displacement by the loom vibration, and to this end thetrip lever- 50 is providedwith asu-rface 5? between the-shoulder 51 and the incline 55 which will bear upon theenlargement 31 of'the sleeve, the feeler then being in its tinactive position and frictionally' held. On the initiation of the next period of activity of the feeler-it -will-beagain moved rearwardly into feeling posi-. tion by the arm 30, as indicated in Fig- 5, and

' s, will be. held in, such position by engagement with the locking shoulder 51 of thetrip lever 50, and should substantial exhaustion of filling be indicated the feeler Will side slip, as

indicated in Fig. 5, and; initiatefilling repl nishmen On the followingdetecting beat With a full;- 7 bobbin in the shuttle the feelerwill be moved frontwardly the full distance prescribed by the diameter Ofthefilling and cause the feeler stem to act upon the incline 55 of the trip vest e eba ree ngth ifeelena dthe l ev L 6 tov tr ntwatd moveme t nte id e p sio t s ndicated n E gwhere hen-a t Will remain; untilthenext period ofiactivity;

of the feeler fi e, the f ler nd; elelicentro lenpr eeve26z Willi rest in a frontward ion idle pesition,

. ndicated eli ist-.2, a di r n moieties efithe positioned as indicatediin Fig.4: andzfnictionz al y-he d; r m i turb ncebyu 1.00m vibration I O e v t Period f activ tvth'e ele-rwillbe. i

oved reatwalzdlv aga n l MtheamnBO. c g -r i -Q lgh' 1 -6 pr ngr sontr ller or. sleeve 26- and upon. detection ofsubstantial exhaustion of filling the feeler will side slip and-effectme-u p eni hme i ;Qffilhng; I a 1 p The lay 58 maybe ofwusual construction. and be provided with the detecting;- shuttlebox 59; the front Wall 6050f; which; has an. openingudl which registers. vWith; opening. 62:;i1nthe shuttle 63- vvhen the shuttle ispropenly boxed,

to thereby permitthe feelfir to enter: the. shut-l e, as usual;anddetect-the condition ofafilli n i. therein.

Wh tisclaimedis: j V v 1. In a feelenmechanism for.-looms,the.combma-tion of a feeleI'Stand, a feeler mounted on the, feeler stand for movement towardsaand from the front ofthe loom and'having a frontWard-ly extendingstem, a feeler spring, a; spring controller constituted as a sleeve mounted Ion the feelerv stem for placing the; feeler under rearwardstress of-the spring for periods ofactivityof thefeele'r, a locking lever having a lockingshoulder for'engaging andholding the sleeve in itsv spring stressing p osition,: and means constituted asan incline, on they locking'lever frontvvard of the locking. shoulder adapted tobe engagedby the front P r i oithef e r te rtr pp ng e lock ,vvhen the feeler is moved frontvvardly by avvvorking supplyof filling inthe shuttle on a detectingbeatthatthe feeler may remain at rest in front positionlduring periods offeeler inactivity. 1

a I an intermittentfeel r mechanism for 0 glt ev m v e i -fe sr t mt Wit a i li PPl-y: f; in theslwt: 7Q}

fixed tubular-member fixedthereto, a feeler mounted on the stand for movement towards and from the front of the loom andhaving a frontwardly extending'stem, a feeler spring mounted on the feeler stem and enclosed by the tubular member, a spring controller constituted as a sleeve mounted for sliding movement on the feeler stem and into said tubular member, means actuated bya going part of ;the loom for'moving the spring controller sleeve periodically into the tubular member to place the feeler spring under stress that the feeler may be moved to rearward feeling position, a locking lever having a locking shoulder frontward of the tubular member for engaging the sleeve to hold the sleeve in "its rearward position, and a trip portion frontward of the locking shoulder for engagement by the end of the feeler stem when it is moved -frontwardly by a full bobbin for tripping the lock that the feeler and sleeve may be moved frontwardly into idle position and the stress of the feeler spring be relieved.

3. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler stand, a

feeler mounted on the feeler stand for movement towards and from the front of the-loom and having a feeler stem, a feeler spring, a

spring controller sleeve mounted for sliding I movement on the feeler stem, means actuated periodically from a going part of the loom for moving the sleeve rearwardly and the feeler to rearward feeling position under the action of the feeler spring,'a locking lever having a loclcing'shoulder for holding the sleeve in its rearward position, and a projection in front of the locking shoulder adapted for engagement by the front end of the feeler stem to free the sleeve from the locking shoulder when the feeler is moved frontwardly by'a working supply of filling on a detecting beat that the feeler may rest inidle position freed from the stress of the feeler spring.

l. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms the combination of a feeler mounted for movement towards and from the front of the loom, a feeler sprlng which exerts a rearward stress upon the feeler during its periods of activity and exerts nostress upon thefeeler during its periods of inactivity that the feeler may freely rest in any frontward position to which it is moved, ajsprmg controller constituted as a sleeve slidably mounted on the for movement towards andfrom the front of the loom, a feeler spring which exerts a rear ward stress upon the feeler during its periods of activity and exerts no stress upon the feeler during its periods of inactivity that the feeler may freely rest in any frontward position to which it is moved, a spring controller constituted as a sleeve slidably'mounted on the feeler and periodically actuated to move the feeler to feelingposition, a latch constituted as a lever having a locking shoulder for engagement with the sleevefor holding the sleeve until the feeler is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling in the shuttle, and a friction surface carried by the latch for 1 engagement by the sleeve to prevent displace ment of the feeler by the loom vibration when the feeler is moved frontwardly by less than a full bobbin.

6. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, the combination of a feeler, a feeler spring which exerts'a rearward stress upon the feeler during its periods of activity and exerts no stress upon the feeler during its periods of inactivity that the feeler may rest freely-in-any front position, a spring controller formed as a sleeve mounted-on the feeler and periodically active to move the feeler to feeling position and place the spring under stress against the feeler on a detecting beat, a latch constituted as a pivoted lever having a locking-"shoulder for engagement with the spring controller and an inclined front end portion for engagement by the front end of the feeler when it is moved frontward ly b'y' a working supply of filling on a detecting beatto'thereby depress the latch and free the controller.

7. In an intermittent feeler mechanism for looms, thecombmation of, a feeler, a feeler spring whieh'exerts a rearward stress upon the feeler during its periods of activity and exerts no stress upon the feeler during its periods of inactivity thatthe feeler may rest freely inanyfront' position, a spring controller formed as a sleeve mounted on the feeler and periodically active to movethe' feeler to feeling position and place the spring under stress against thefeeler on a detecting beat, a latch constituted as a pivoted lever having awlocking shoulder for engagement withlthe spring controller and an inclined front'end portion for engagement with the front end of the feeler when it is moved frontwardly by a working supply of filling on a detecting beat to thereby depress'the latch and free the controller, and a friction surface carried by the latch between the locking shoulder and inclined front end to engage the sleeve when the feeler is moved frontwardly'by less than a full bobbin.

'Intestimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

ELVIN D. MAQARTHUR 

